Universities that haven’t conducted a presidential search in a while will find that the process has changed significantly since they last looked for their leadership.

This episode of Marketing Live will address the key ways that presidential searches have changed in the last 10-15 years as well as search trends to anticipate over the next decade. Critical issues for marketing and communications leaders include how to balance a candidate’s wishes for confidentiality with an institution’s need for transparency and how to avoid surprises that might embarrass the institution during the search.

Marketing Live is sponsored by PRSA’s Counselors to Higher Education

Episode Host

Rob Zinkan

Rob Zinkan has been with Indiana University for 16 years and is currently in a system-wide role as associate vice president for marketing, where he works to develop, deploy, and champion the university’s brand strategy; leads Indiana University’s full-service internal marketing agency; and serves as marketing liaison to IU’s two core campuses’ (IU Bloomington and IUPUI) leadership and marketing community.
Previously, he worked at the campus level as vice chancellor for external affairs at Indiana University East and assistant dean for advancement at Indiana University–Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC).
Rob earned his bachelor's degree from Wabash College, master's from Xavier University, and doctorate from Creighton University. He serves on the CASE Commission on Communications and Marketing, contributes to Inside Higher Ed's Call to Action blog, and serves on the conference committee for the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education.

Guest

Dennis Barden

Dennis Barden is a senior partner at the executive search firm Witt/Kieffer. A former managing partner of the firm’s education practice, Dennis supports boards and search committees in searches for presidents and chancellors – as well as institutional leaders in the recruitment of vice presidents and deans. During his time with Witt/Kieffer, he has played a central role in almost 400 searches across higher education, the nonprofit sector, and healthcare philanthropy.

With nearly 40 years of higher education experience – including 20 years in increasingly responsible leadership roles at his alma mater, St. Lawrence University, as well as with Northwestern and Georgetown Universities and the University of Chicago – Dennis has been deeply immersed in the marketplace dynamics impacting colleges and universities.